February 21, 1945

February 21st, 1945, marks the next loss of an aircraft assigned to 10./NJG 11. The circumstances require additional research but so far, it seems as if Fw. Heinrich von Stade put down his (damaged) jet at Prenzlau airfield.

The loss lists of the Generalquartiemeister list this Me 262 as “70% damaged by enemy fire” but no indication that the pilot was injured or even killed[1]Genst. Gen. Qu. 6 Abt, Nr. 280/45.

This is important because some sources suggest that Heinrich von Stade was either “injured”[2]Smith, J. Richard et al.; Me 262 Volume 3; Page 461 or even “killed”[3]Jurleit, Manfred; Strahljäger Me 262 im Einsatz; Seite 178 on the occasion. The Volksbund Deutscher Kriegsgräberfürsorge lists his death for the beginning of April 1945 which I believe is correct – but I will get to that later.

It also is not clear if the aircraft was damaged during a daylight mission or a nocturnal mission – a chance for the jets of 10./NJG 11 to have seen action that night exists: the Light Night Striking Force attacks Berlin the night of February 21st, 1945, to February 22nd with 77 Mosquitos[4]Middlebrook, Martin et al.; The Bomber Command War Diaries; Page 668. Intercepted ULTRA Messages however suggest that only a single Me 262 saw action this night[5]ULTRA Record DEFE-3/510 – BT5511